Female employees in Thailand will be entitled to maternity leave of up to 120 days under the Labour Protection Amendments bill, which passed the Senate today.
Under the new bill, a mother is entitled to 120 days of maternity leave, with full pay for 60 days, compared with 98 days and 45 days of full pay under the current law. It will take effect within 30 days after being promulgated in the Royal Gazette.
Moreover, their spouses can take 15 days paid leave to care for their partner, he added.
The bill also extends benefits to contract employees, such as pay for working on weekends, traditional holidays, during their sick leave or maternity leave as specified in the bill, which will come into effect 30 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette, said Narongwit.
He also said that the Labour Welfare and Protection Department will explain the new law to the private sector, employer’s associations and labour unions.
He warned that employers who violate the law, such as by forcing pregnant workers to do risky jobs which may endanger their pregnancy, will be liable to a maximum fine of 20,000 baht.
